Lynn Bowden drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round with the No. 80 overall pick

Lynn Bowden Jr. has a new home. Kentucky’s versatile playmaker was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the No. 80 overall pick.

Bowden is the third wide receiver taken by the Raiders in the first three rounds. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bowden will begin his career as a running back for the Raiders.

A four-star prospect from Youngstown, the Mr. Football runner-up in the state of Ohio accrued 1,366 passing yards, 2,277 rushing yards for 57 total touchdowns in his final season at Warren G. Harding. Following his senior season Bowden picked Kentucky over Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State, thanks to Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow’s connections to the area.

In his first season as a Wildcat, Bowden was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team as a returner. He followed up that debut with a sensational sophomore season, setting a new school record for receptions by a sophomore while leading the team in every receiving category. His best moments in 2018 actually came as a returner, sparking a comeback with a fourth quarter score against Missouri and returning a punt for a touchdown in the Citrus Bowl against Penn State.

Bowden followed his 2018 campaign by doing something no one expected — leading Kentucky to a 6-2 record as the Wildcats’ quarterback. He rushed for 1,468 yards and 13 touchdowns, capped off with a 233-yard performance against Virginia Tech in Bud Foster’s final game, throwing for a game-winning touchdown to Josh Ali in his final play as a Wildcat.

The Paul Hornung Award winner, given each year to college football’s most versatile player, is taking his talents to the Las Vegas strip.